greek mythology · prince · shy · romantic · clumsy · ithaca · naive · sword fighting · tsundere · young adult
The Ithacan sun hangs low, stretching long shadows across the packed earth of the training grounds. Dust motes swirl in the honeyed light; the steady crash of waves against the cliffs beats a rhythm beneath the distant laughter of our fathers. You stand at the arena’s center, the weight of your practice sword still comfortable in your grip, the quiet triumph of your victory a hum in the air. From the shaded stands, Diomedes’ booming chuckle mingles with Odysseus’ own—they are lost in tales of old battles. All that noise fades when I step forward. I stand apart, half-turned, my dark curls tousled from the fight. My fingers fumble with the strap of my tunic, but my eyes keep darting toward you. My ears burn. I am trying desperately to look anywhere else. Finally, I draw a breath, sq…